The Kremlin hopes that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump will hold their first meeting before the G20 summit, scheduled for July in Hamburg, Russia's presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, according to an UNIAN correspondent in Russia.

"Probably they can," Peskov said, answering the question whether the presidents of Russia and the United States can hold a meeting before the G20 summit in July. He noted that first it was necessary to decide on the date and venue of the meeting of the two leaders.

"The assistants will be engaged in this issue, and we hope that it will happen rather quickly," Peskov said.....

UN Court to consider Ukraine's claim against Russia in March – Klimkin

The International Court of Justice in The Hague will start hearings of Ukraine’s suit aimed to hold Russia accountable for the acts of terrorism and discrimination during its illegal aggression against Ukraine will begin in March 2017, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said on Ukrainian Inter TV channel.

"In March, the hearings in March in the International Court of Justice will start of our lawsuit that we have filed against Russia, as it has consistently been violating the UN Convention on Combating the Financing of Terrorism and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination," he said....

Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jens Stoltenberg said that Russia's annexation of Crimea is contrary to the values ​​of the Alliance.

As Tsenzor.NET, this opinion Stoltenberg expressed in an interview with BBC BBC in response to a request to comment on the remark of the US administration of the possibility under certain conditions, recognition of Russian Crimea.

"Annexation of Crimea contradicts the values ​​of NATO," - said the secretary general.

Note that the number of Russian media distorted words of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg annexation of Crimea, calling it "accession".

Ukrainian soldiers during the fighting in the industrial zone Avdeyevka captured three militants, two of whom died - Speaker ATO

During yesterday's fighting in Avdeyevka industrial zone was taken prisoner three militants, two of whom died, one resident of Makeyevka pre - submitted to the SBU.

This speaker Defense Ministry of Ukraine for ATO Colonel Alexander Motuzyanyk said today at a briefing, reports Tsenzor.NET.

"During the battle in the industrial zone Avdeyevka Ukrainian soldiers captured fighter. He transferred to employees of the SBU, more information will be released soon," - he said.

Responding to a question about the specifying number of militants who were captured, Motuzyanyk confirmed that during the fighting got captured three militants, but two of them died.

"This information is untrue. However, as I said today in captivity is a member of the SPC. His name has not been disclosed, but before I can say that this resident registered in Makeyevka", - said the speaker of the ATO.

Council of the European Union at the level of heads of the Foreign Ministry plans at its meeting on 6 February in Brussels to assess progress in the implementation of the reform agenda in Ukraine last year.

It informs Tsenzor.NET with reference to Interfax-Ukraine , reported on Monday, the press service of the council.

"Ministers (Foreign Affairs - Ed.) Will hold a discussion on how to enhance the impact of EU support. They particularly appreciate the assistance of the EU in the implementation of the Minsk agreements," - said in a public site council provisional agenda of the meeting.

The Council, chaired by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini will also discuss the political situation in Libya a year after the formation of a government of national consensus.

It is envisaged that ministers will consider how to work with Libya to address the problem of illegal immigration at the Central Mediterranean route based on proposals submitted by 25 January 2017 the European Commission and the European Foreign Service, and in the light of the summit of EU Malta 3 February 2017.

In addition, the Council will discuss the situation in Egypt and the future development of relations between Cairo and Brussels. The draft agenda admits that ministers will consider the specific problems of migration and the fight against terrorism and the role of Egypt in the region.

Recall, as previously reported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Russia, as a signatory Minsk agreements did not fulfill any of the points written in the document

Poroshenko urged the German parliament recognize Holodomor as genocide of Ukrainian people

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko urged the Bundestag to recognize Holodomor as genocide of Ukrainian people.

It informs Tsenzor.NET of a written press secretary of the President Svyatoslav Tseholko on his page on Twitter.

"The president urged the German parliament recognize Holodomor as genocide of the Ukrainian people," - he wrote. Photo: Tseholko / Twitter Read more: Tandit I have no doubt that Poroshenko and Merkel during a meeting in Germany discuss the release of hostages Ukrainian As previously reported, Poroshenko is on a working visit to Germany.

Over past day, five Ukrainian soldiers were killed, 14 wounded and traumatized in combat in eastern Ukraine.This was announced by Defense Ministry spokesperson on anti-terrorist operation (ATO) matters Oleksandr Motuzianyk at a briefing on Monday, Censor.NET reports.

"Five Ukrainian soldiers are reported killed in combat yesterday. 14 received wounds and injuries," he said.

He noted that almost all the losses had been suffered in heavy fighting inear Avdiivka.

The fighting in the vicinity of Avdiivka has been underway since late Saturday, Jan. 28. Ukrainian soldiers bravely hold their lines, the military sources report.

Fighting in breakaway eastern regions of Ukraine has escalated, with seven government soldiers and about 15 Russian-backed militants killed in battles near the separatist stronghold of Donetsk, officials said.

Ukrainian defence officials on Monday accused “Russian occupation forces” of firing, “using all the might of their arsenal along all front lines” from Donetsk, south towards the strategic port city of Mariupol. The separatists used Grad rocket systems in the attack, they said.

Donetsk-based separatist leaders blamed Kiev’s forces for the violence, which they said claimed the life of one of their top commanders.

The escalation of what had become routine daily skirmishes will add to a death toll that has already reached about 10,000 in a three-year undeclared war over territory near the Ukraine-Russia border.

Kiev accused Russian-backed separatists of provoking the battle by attempting to seize government positions north of Donetsk. In response, “our military servicemen went on the offensive taking an important position which has strategic significance”, Stepan Poltorak, Ukraine’s defence minister, said late on Sunday.

The attacks took place after Donald Trump held his first telephone call as US president with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, discussing both the Ukraine and Syria conflicts.............

"We have got a total mess instead of two mission capable corps thanks to numerous boneheaded officials, both civilian and military (all without exception are Russians). Their fighting capacity and combat skills can, perhaps, be compared only to German "stationary divisions" as of spring of 1944 that were deployed on France's Atlantic coast (which were defeated and wiped out by the allies almost in no time, even faster than it was expected).

"Their fighting capacity is low, mobility potential is almost zero, morale is lousy and even the staff size differs greatly from the assigned one. These corps are incapable to launch full-scale offensive (especially against the enemy that is equally miserable but far more numerous).

"If someone flings them into a large scale offensive without direct support of the Russian Armed Forces, they will not be just defeated but overwhelmed. I have repeatedly pointed out what caused such a sad situation. But I am not talking about them now, but about how it would be possible to immediately fix the situation at least to some acceptable extent," he wrote.